7219 (2024). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister for Regulation

7219 (2024). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Minister for Regulation: Does the Minister agree with Megan White of Capital Kids Cooperative, that proposed deregulation of the Early Childhood Education sector is "putting businesses first and not children,” and if not, why not?

Hon David Seymour: No. I do not agree that the changes I am making to Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulations are about “putting businesses first and not children.” My intention is to improve the quality of ECE regulation so that all service providers, whether they are businesses or community-based providers, can better utilise their scarce time and resources to deliver affordable and accessible ECE services to all children and their parents. Unnecessary, overly complicated and burdensome regulation not only frustrates and constrains existing service providers, but it also prevents and discourages investment in the establishment of new ECE services that may respond to the needs of children and their parents. It can also unnecessarily restrict the availability of teachers, taking them away from caring for and educating children, which is what they are there to do.